Activities & Tours around Cibolo Creek Ranch

We encourage you to shake off the demands of daily life and embrace a simpler, more serene way of living at our family resort in Texas.

When you arrive at The Ranch, we’ll give you a brief tour and tell you about all the activities and amenities included in your stay. Then, it’s up to you to decide how to spend your time: Relax by the pool, finish that great book you started, or arrange for one of the outdoor activities.

Classic Experiences

Drawing visitors from around the world, our classic ranch activities provide an exhilarating experience for our guests. From ATV rides and guided mountain tours of our 30,000 acres, to rifle, pistol and shotgun ranges, sporting clays and limited hunting excursions, guests at Cibolo Creek Ranch will have no shortage of exciting things to do. Learn more about ranch experiences here.

Free Activities

There are also plenty of activities around the ranch at no charge. Head out for a self-guided hike along two-hundred miles of trails and terrain, enjoy some free-roam mountain biking or try your hand at catch-and-release fishing in our pristine lake. Finish your day off with a refreshing swim or relax on the lake with one of our courtesy paddle boats.

HIKING AND WILDLIFE VIEWING

Grab a map and a small emergency radio from the front desk and take off on a hiking excursion along our horse paths and roads or along one of the dozens of smaller footpaths around the property. Keep your camera ready for native wildlife, including American buffalo, Carmen mountain whitetail deer, mule deer, elk, aoudad, coyotes, black bears, javelinas, mountain lions, bobcats and grazing domestic livestock.

BIRD WATCHING AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Bird lovers and wildlife photographers, keep your camera at the ready! This area is home to more than 50 species of native birds, from golden eagles and peregrine falcons, to roadrunners, turkeys and 18 known species of bats. Native mammals and mountain plants are also abundant.

STARGAZING

The beauty of rural Texas shines brightest at night. Without bright city lights to obstruct your view, our night sky is truly out of this world. Use our 12” Meade telescope at both Cibolo and Cienega to discover the night sky’s secrets: To arrange a star-gazing session with one of our telescopes, please give us a call or stop by our office. These sessions may be arranged for groups or individuals, and include an astronomer or time with a ranch staff member who will guide you through your star-studded evening.

Fishing and Boating

El Cibolo lake is a great spot for anglers of all levels. Spring-fed and stocked with largemouth bass, catfish and perch, our lake is an idyllic spot for a peaceful day on a paddleboat. Or keep it simple and fish from shore. Our catch-and-release policy means there’s plenty of fish for everyone. Pick up all the tackle and gear you need from our guest office collection of lures, casting/spinning and fly rods.

Mountain Biking

Cibolo Creek Ranch features two-hundred miles of trails and roads to explore by mountain bike, available from the ranch on request. Our trails and roads range from beginner to expert, offering something exciting for everyone. Order a picnic lunch from the ranch and hit the trails for a day in the Chinati mountains.

Horseback Riding

Test your equestrian skills and explore the Cibolo Creek Ranch property by horseback – the iconic Texas leisure pursuit. With more than 100 miles of horse-friendly trails and roads leading to mountain vistas and historic rock art sites, our guides will make sure you see it all.

Rest, Read, Chat: Classic Ranch-Style Pastimes

Kick back and check out our El Cibolo library for a great read, relax in our welcoming common areas for a game of cards or enjoy your favorite show on satellite TV.

Campfires Under the Stars: South Texas TV

In true ranch style, we light a campfire each night to draw our guests together for a session of what’s known around these parts as “South Texas TV,” a nod to the days before television was available in rural Texas. Our kitchen serves delicious campfire dinners for small groups looking for the real al fresco dining experience.

Off The Ranch - Big Bend

Cìbolo Creek Ranch is close to many of the top Texas places of interest and local tourist attractions. We
are about two hours northwest of the stunning Big Bend National Park and an hour from the 311,000-acre Big Bend Ranch State Park. Situated along the Rio Grande, the parks are home to hundreds of species of plants, birds, reptiles and mammals. But if you prefer to stay close to the ranch, there’s more than enough on offer to keep you occupied.

Off the Ranch – Driving Tours

Cross the border into Ojinaga, Mexico or explore the historic Old West towns of Ft. Davis, Marfa and Alpine. About 45 minutes away, Alpine is the home of Sul Ross State University and the Museum of the Big Bend. A major attraction in the museum is a large exhibit devoted to Milton Faver and Cibolo Creek Ranch, which he founded in the mid-nineteenth century.

OFF THE RANCH – CHINATI FOUNDATION

From Chinati.org: The Chinati Foundation in Marfa sponsors art and education programs, establishing close links to the local community and other cultural institutions and universities in the United States and abroad. Started by Donald Judd, Chinati's Artists in Residence Program provides artists from around the world an opportunity to develop and exhibit their work in a stimulating environment.

The permanent collection includes 15 outdoor concrete works by Donald Judd, 100 aluminum works by Judd housed in two converted artillery sheds, 25 sculptures by John Chamberlain, an installation by Dan Flavin occupying six former army barracks, and works by Carl Andre, Ingólfur Arnarsson, Roni Horn, Ilya Kabakov, Richard Long, Claes Oldenburg, Coosje van Bruggen, David Rabinowitch, and John Wesley. Each artist's work is installed in a separate building on the museum's grounds. Temporary exhibitions feature modern and contemporary art of diverse media.

Off the Ranch – McDonald Observatory

Near the Fort Davis National Monument is McDonald Observatory, the renowned University of Texas astronomical facility with the technologically advanced Hobby-Eberly telescope. The Observatory offers daytime tours and star parties at night in addition to hosting other events open to the public.

OFF THE RANCH – MARFA

Marfa, TX is where the iconic Texas movie Giant was filmed in the 1950’s – with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean (tours are available through the Chinati Foundation). Marfa is home to numerous studios, galleries and museums displaying works from local artists and international iconoclasts like Andy Warhol. Just outside of town travelers can witness the strange and unexplained phenomena known as the Marfa Lights. These mysterious lights appear randomly throughout the night and have inspired much speculation and legend as to their origin.

OFF THE RANCH – FT. DAVIS

Among other attractions within easy driving range is the Ft. Davis National Monument, a nineteenth-century U.S. Army Cavalry fort that was home to the famous ‘Buffalo Soldiers’. Take a trip to Ft. Davis National Monument to learn about the fort that won West Texas.

Contact / Find Us

Cíbolo Creek Ranch Airport is located on the ranch about 4 miles from the headquarters and 33 miles SSW of Marfa, Texas. The FAA Identifier is TS15. We have one runway: Runway 9/27, 5,300 feet long and 60 feet wide, which can accommodate most private aircraft. Our surface is crushed rock and asphalt with an emulsion coating. There are turnaround areas at both ends of the runway and a paved parking area. The runway is lighted for nighttime arrivals. There is no FBO and we do not have aviation fuel, which is, however, conveniently available in Marfa.